School of Health Sciences students have been recognised for their academic excellence at this year’s Student Prize and Award Ceremony.
Presented annually and based on performance and overall contribution to their course, 16 awards were presented to outstanding students at the ceremony across various School disciplines including speech pathology, physiotherapy, clinical rehabilitation, disability and audiology.
Students were awarded their accolade and monetary prizes at an evening ceremony held last Thursday in the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre Complex.
Mr Craig Wilkins, Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia and a graduate of the Flinders University Masters of Primary Health Care program, spoke at the ceremony and congratulated students on their outstanding results.
Professor John Coveny, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, said the awards recognised the commitment and outstanding performance of students.
“I congratulate this year’s award winners for their hard work and dedication. Their results bode well for their continuing success in the health care industry,” Professor Coveney said.
“It is exciting to hear first-hand from many of our award winners that they have already gained employment in the allied health sector and are able to apply their skills to contribute to local, regional and international communities.”
The recipients and awards were:
- Ms Jessica Gates: The Bachelor Of Disability And Developmental Education, Practical Excellence Prize
- Ms Dawn Atkins: The Master Of Disability Studies, Academic Excellence Prize
- Ms Sarah Smith,: The Speech Pathology Association Of Australia Prize
- Ms Jessica Young: The Staff Prize In Speech Pathology
- Ms Sarah Streeter: The Staff Prize: Master Of Speech Pathology
- Ms Rachel McLean: The Master Of Speech Pathology Prize For Academic Excellence
- Ms Melinda Kelly: The Australian Physiotherapy Association Award Graduate Entry Master’s Prize for Clinical Excellence
- Ms Anri Visser: The Master of Physiotherapy Academic Excellence Prize
- Ms Nadia Bevan: The Health Sciences Prize for Academic Excellence
- Ms Wei Ling E Koh: The Master of Clinical Rehabilitation Research Prize
- Ms Chelsea Lock: The Bupa Health And Wellness Scholarship
- Ms Melissa Cheung: The Bachelor Of Disability And Developmental Education, Academic Excellence Award
- Mr Matthew Dent: The Disability And Community Inclusion Unit, Postgraduate Research Excellence Prize
- Ms Rhiannon Bilsborough: The Academic Prize In Audiology
- Ms Catherine Tsoka: Michael Crotty Prize
- Ms Stacey Elston: The Staff Prize In Audiology
One of the award winners, Catherine Tsoka, who was unable to attend the ceremony, sent a message of acknowledgement from Malawi, where she is working as a Principal Nutritionist, HIV and AIDS Officer in the Ministry of Defence.
She said she was honoured to receive the award and that her time at Flinders had helped to spring board her career in Malawi.
“Obtaining my Masters of Public Health (Public Health Nutrition) from Flinders University has moved me to the next level,” she said.
“The dedication of lecturers at Flinders University and the support of family members and workplace colleagues is now allowing me to empower communities to take charge of their own lives, which is incredibly rewarding.”